Military offensive in Pakistan forces militants into Afghanistan: report

Former and current Afghan officials say groups of militants arrived due to operations in North Waziristan


Web Desk/web Desk January 29, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

A military offensive in Islamabad which eradicated militants’ havens has led to Arab and Central Asian militants moving into Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials and local residents, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Former and current Afghan officials say groups of militants have arrived due to the operations aimed at clearing militants from North Waziristan.

Militants’ families – about 400 of them – moved into Afghanistan in December, and according to Afghan officials, they live with locals in the country. The family members include those who are affiliated with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and al Qaeda.

While their arrival may come off as threatening to a country that is already struggling with security -- what with the country being confronted with a Taliban insurgency -- Afghan officials say the fighters are not taking part in combat.

A tribal elder from Helmand, Haji Abdul Azizi, hosted a family that were loyal to the Islamic State.

“They were six men, seven women and two children,” he said. “They were speaking Arabic and two of them also understood Pashto. They came in two [four-wheel drive] cars.”

He said women in the group were armed, and would take turns keeping a lookout on each other during the night.

Azizi also said that their arrival had brought about a rigid version of Islam which was clashing with their local traditions.

“They are against shrines,” Azizi said. “They are removing flags from the shrines and preventing people from going there.”

The militants and their families settled in Ghazni, Zabul and Farah, Afghan officials said.

Zabul’s districts – espically Day Chupan and Khak- Afghan – are under the control of the Taliban, and according to the officials, about 150 families reside there.

“They are al Qaeda, and some of them are armed,” a top security official in Zabul, Ghullam Jilani Farahi, said.

Moreover, according to a tribal elder from Day Chupan, the militants and their families are protected and supported by local Taliban commanders. They live in houses that were uninhabited.

“These people have come in large numbers with their children and wives,” the tribal elder said.

“Since these areas are fully under Taliban control, they enjoy complete freedom and walk around freely,” he added.

COMMENTS (6)

Mubeen | 9 years ago | Reply

Someone should make a drama about these Jihadi families. Maybe one day hollywood will tackle this.

Salman Ali | 9 years ago | Reply

There is no space for these terrorists in Pakistan. Good to know that they have been forced out!

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